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Bloomingdale diver makes beautiful music

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: November 4, 2009

Updated: 11/04/2009 04:18 pm

VALRICO - Bloomingdale High School's Nick Wing-Holt is just as comfortable on a stage with a violin in hand as he is on a diving board.

When Wing-Holt steps into either arena, both outlets allow him to exert his artistic expression.

"With music, you have to just play. You can't really think about it," Wing-Holt said. "It's just like diving. I just stand on a board and dive. Before auditions or concerts, I wig out, but once I start playing, I'm fine.

"And before a dive, I wig out and I'm all nervous, but when I get on the board, I'm fine."

Wing-Holt's more than fine. One of the top divers in Hillsborough County, Wing-Holt recently set two boys records at Bloomingdale.

In a dual meet against Jesuit, his score of 289.75 bested the old six-dive record; in the Western Conference Diving Championships, his score of 497.7 set an 11-dive record.

"Ever since I got to the school, I wanted to break the records," Wing-Holt said. "I finally got there and I'm really excited."

His somewhat easy assimilation into diving is understandable given the fact Wing-Holt is also musically inclined.

"I use the analogy that learning to use the diving board is like learning to play a musical instrument," diving coach Joe Greenwell said. "You have to get the basics down."

Wing-Holt began training with Greenwell when he was 8. The former Brandon Swim and Tennis Club coach, who now trains divers in Islamorada, discovered early on that Wing-Holt possessed an intangible that makes most good divers great.

"He was very brave when it came to the scary dives," Greenwell said. "He's always been able to perform well because he trusts the sport. When you trust in what you're doing, your natural ability comes through.

"He just has a real connection to diving and it has allowed his skills to come out."

Wing-Holt attempted to connect with other sports, but it was diving that captured his attention and kept it.

"Diving is something I've always wanted to do," Wing-Holt said. "I tried T-ball. I tried soccer and I finally got to try diving and it just stuck. I love the danger aspect of it.

"It's a sport that just clicked with me."

The Bulls senior, who will try to medal for the second consecutive year at the FHSAA Swimming & Diving Championships on Nov. 13, wants to place in the top three in the Class 3A competition. Last year, he was eighth. His sophomore year he finished ninth and 13th as a freshman.

Claiming the recent Western Conference Federal Division title, with an 11-dive score of 497.7, puts him among the top high school divers in the state. As for a future in diving, Wing-Holt has several college offers to consider.

He would like to find a university that combines his love of diving with his love of music.

"I don't want to give up diving," he said. "I'm going to be a music major, so I'd like to find a school that has a good diving program and also a good music program.

"I've yet to find it, but I'll keep looking."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860.

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